"The devil!" says my Lord.
"Not precisely," I amended5, and bowed in my best manner, "though 'tis undeniable I come to act as his representative."
"Harkee, sir," said I, "as you, with perfect justice, have stated, this is the devil's stronghold, and hereabouts his will is paramount7; and, as I have had the honor to add, the devil is a gentleman. Sure, and as such, he cannot be expected to countenance8 your present behavior? Nay9, never fear! Lucifer, already up to the ears in the affairs of this mundane10 sphere, lacks leisure to express his disapproval11 in sulphuric person. He tenders his apologies, sir, and sends in his stead your servant, with whose capabilities12 he is indifferently acquainted."
Lordship's banknotes and jewels, and such-like trifles, rather than—you
force me, sir, to say it,—rather than of your company."
"You're the most impudent17 rogue18," says he, after he had recovered himself a little, "that I have had the privilege of meeting—"
"Your Lordship is all kindness," I protested.
"—but your impudence19 is worth the price of whatever you may have pilfered20. Go, my good man—or devil, if you so prefer to style yourself! Tell Lucifer that he is well served; and obligingly return to the infernal regions without delay. For, as you have doubtless learned, Miss and I have many private matters to discuss. And, gad21, Mr. Moloch, [Footnote: A deity22 of, I believe, Ammonitish origin. His traditional character as represented by our immortal23 Milton is both taking to the fancy and finely romantic; and is, I am informed, no less remarkable24 for many happy turns of speech than for conformity25 throughout to the most famous legends of Talmudic fabrication.—F.A.] pleasant as is your conversation, you must acknowledge I can't allow evil spirits about the house without getting it an ill reputation. So pardon me if I exorcise you with this."
He spoke26 boldly, and, as he ended, tossed me a purse. I let it lie where it fell, for I had by no means ended my argument.
"Yet, sir," said I, "my errand, which began with the acquisition of your pins, studs and other jewelry27, now reaches toward treasure far more precious—"
"Enough!" he cried, impatiently, "Begone! and do you render thanks—that my present business is so urgent as to prevent my furnishing the rope which will one day adorn28 your neck."
"That's as may be," quoth I; "and, indeed, I doubt if I could abide29 drowning, for 'tis a damp, unwholesome, and very permanent sort of death. But my fixed30 purpose, to cut short all debate, is to escort Miss Allonby homeward."
"Come," sneers31 my Lord,—"come, Mr. Moloch, I have borne with your insolence32 for a quarter of an hour—"
"Twenty minutes," said I, after consulting my watch.
"—but I mean to put up with it no longer; and in consequence I take the boorish33 liberty of suggesting that this is none of your affair."
"Good sir," I conceded, "your Lordship speaks with considerable justice, and we must leave the final decision to Miss here."
I bowed toward her. In her face there was a curious bewilderment that made me fear lest, for all my mask, for all my unnatural34 intonations35, and for all the room's half-light, my worshipped mistress had come near to recognizing this caught thief.
"Miss Allonby," said I, in a falsetto voice which trembled, "since I am unknown to you, may I trust you will permit me to present myself? My name—though, indeed, I have a multitude of names—is for the occasion Frederick Thomasson. With my father's appellation36 and estates I cannot accommodate you, for the reason that a mystery attaches to his identity. As for my mother, let it suffice to say that she was a vivacious37 brunette of a large acquaintance, and generally known to the public as Black Moll O'Reilly. I began life as a pickpocket38. Since then I have so far improved my natural gifts that the police are flattering enough to value my person at several hundred pounds. My rank in society, as you perceive, is not exalted39; yet, if my luck by any chance should fail, I do not question that I shall, upon some subsequent Friday, move in loftier circles than any nobleman who happens at the time to be on Tyburn Hill.—So much for my poor self. And since by this late hour Lady Allonby is beyond doubt beginning to grow uneasy, let us have done with further exposition, and remember that 'tis high time you selected an escort to her residence. May I implore40 that you choose between the son of the Marquis of Venour and Black Molly's bastard41?"
She looked us over,—first one, then the other. More lately she laughed; and if I had never seen her before, I could have found it in my heart to love her for the sweet insolence of her demeanor42.
"After all," said my adored Dorothy, "I prefer the rogue who when he goes about his knaveries43 has at least the decency44 to wear a mask."
"That, my Lord," said I, "is fairly conclusive45; and so we will be journeying."
"Over my dead body!" says he.
"Sure, and what's beneath the feet," I protested, "is equally beneath consideration."
The witticism46 stung him like a wasp47, and, with an oath, he drew, as I was heartily48 glad to observe, for I cannot help thinking that when it comes to the last pinch, and one gentleman is excessively annoyed by the existence of another, steel is your only arbiter49, and charitable allowances for the dead make the one rational peroration50. So we crossed blades; and, pursuing my usual tactics, I began upon a flow of words, which course, as I have learned by old experience, is apt to disconcert an adversary51 far more than any trick of the sword can do.
I pressed him sorely, and he continued to give way, but clearly for tactical purposes, and without permitting the bright flash of steel that protected him to swerve52 an instant from the proper line.
"Miss Allonby," said I, growing impatient, "have you never seen a venomous insect pinned to the wall? In that case, I pray you to attend more closely. For one has only to parry—thus! And to thrust—in this fashion! And behold53, the thing is done!"
In fact, having been run through the chest, my Lord was for the moment affixed54 to the panelling at the extreme end of the apartment, where he writhed55, much in the manner of a cockchafer which mischievous56 urchins57 have pinned to a card,—his mien58 and his gesticulations, however, being rather more suggestive of the torments59 of the damned, as they are so strikingly depicted60 by the Italian Dante. [Footnote: I allude61, of course, to the famous Florentine, who excels no less in his detailed62 depictions of infernal anguish63 than in his eloquent64 portrayal65 of the graduated and equitable66 emoluments67 of an eternal glorification68.—F.A.] He tumbled in a heap, though, when I sheathed69 my sword and bowed toward my charmer.
"Miss Allonby," said I, "thus quickly ends this evil quarter of an hour; and with, equal expedition, I think, should we be leaving this evil quarter of the town."
She had watched the combat with staring and frightened eyes. Now she had drawn70 nearer, and she looked curiously71 at her over-presumptuous lover where he had fallen.
"Have you killed him?" she asked, in a hushed voice.
"O Lord, no!" I protested. "The life of a peer's son is too valuable a matter; he will be little the worse for it in a week."
"The dog!" cries she, overcome with pardonable indignation at the affront72 which the misguided nobleman had put upon her; and afterward73, with a ferocity the more astounding74 in an individual whose demeanor was by ordinary of an aspect so amiable75 and so engaging, she said, "Oh, the lewd76 thieving dog!"
"My adorable Miss Allonby," said I, "do not, I pray you, thus slander77 the canine78 species! Meanwhile, permit me to remind you that 'tis inexpedient to loiter in these parts, for the parson will presently be at hand; and if it be to inter79 rather than to marry Lord Humphrey—well, after all, the peerage is a populous80 estate! But, either way, time presses."
"Come!" said she, and took my arm; and together we went down-stairs and into the street.
点击收听单词发音
1 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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2 tranquil | |
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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3 contemplate | |
vt.盘算,计议;周密考虑;注视,凝视 | |
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4 wrung | |
绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 ); 握紧(尤指别人的手); 把(湿衣服)拧干; 绞掉(水) | |
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5 Amended | |
adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词 | |
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6 sneered | |
讥笑,冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7 paramount | |
a.最重要的,最高权力的 | |
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8 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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9 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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10 mundane | |
adj.平凡的;尘世的;宇宙的 | |
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11 disapproval | |
n.反对,不赞成 | |
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12 capabilities | |
n.能力( capability的名词复数 );可能;容量;[复数]潜在能力 | |
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13 lodgings | |
n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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14 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
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15 candor | |
n.坦白,率真 | |
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16 gasped | |
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要 | |
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17 impudent | |
adj.鲁莽的,卑鄙的,厚颜无耻的 | |
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18 rogue | |
n.流氓;v.游手好闲 | |
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19 impudence | |
n.厚颜无耻;冒失;无礼 | |
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20 pilfered | |
v.偷窃(小东西),小偷( pilfer的过去式和过去分词 );偷窃(一般指小偷小摸) | |
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21 gad | |
n.闲逛;v.闲逛 | |
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22 deity | |
n.神,神性;被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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23 immortal | |
adj.不朽的;永生的,不死的;神的 | |
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24 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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25 conformity | |
n.一致,遵从,顺从 | |
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26 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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27 jewelry | |
n.(jewllery)(总称)珠宝 | |
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28 adorn | |
vt.使美化,装饰 | |
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29 abide | |
vi.遵守;坚持;vt.忍受 | |
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30 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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31 sneers | |
讥笑的表情(言语)( sneer的名词复数 ) | |
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32 insolence | |
n.傲慢;无礼;厚颜;傲慢的态度 | |
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33 boorish | |
adj.粗野的,乡巴佬的 | |
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34 unnatural | |
adj.不自然的;反常的 | |
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35 intonations | |
n.语调,说话的抑扬顿挫( intonation的名词复数 );(演奏或唱歌中的)音准 | |
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36 appellation | |
n.名称,称呼 | |
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37 vivacious | |
adj.活泼的,快活的 | |
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38 pickpocket | |
n.扒手;v.扒窃 | |
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39 exalted | |
adj.(地位等)高的,崇高的;尊贵的,高尚的 | |
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40 implore | |
vt.乞求,恳求,哀求 | |
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41 bastard | |
n.坏蛋,混蛋;私生子 | |
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42 demeanor | |
n.行为;风度 | |
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43 knaveries | |
n.流氓行为( knavery的名词复数 ) | |
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44 decency | |
n.体面,得体,合宜,正派,庄重 | |
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45 conclusive | |
adj.最后的,结论的;确凿的,消除怀疑的 | |
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46 witticism | |
n.谐语,妙语 | |
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47 wasp | |
n.黄蜂,蚂蜂 | |
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48 heartily | |
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 | |
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49 arbiter | |
n.仲裁人,公断人 | |
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50 peroration | |
n.(演说等之)结论 | |
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51 adversary | |
adj.敌手,对手 | |
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52 swerve | |
v.突然转向,背离;n.转向,弯曲,背离 | |
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53 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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54 affixed | |
adj.[医]附着的,附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 );粘贴;加以;盖(印章) | |
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55 writhed | |
(因极度痛苦而)扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56 mischievous | |
adj.调皮的,恶作剧的,有害的,伤人的 | |
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57 urchins | |
n.顽童( urchin的名词复数 );淘气鬼;猬;海胆 | |
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58 mien | |
n.风采;态度 | |
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59 torments | |
(肉体或精神上的)折磨,痛苦( torment的名词复数 ); 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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60 depicted | |
描绘,描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 ); 描述 | |
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61 allude | |
v.提及,暗指 | |
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62 detailed | |
adj.详细的,详尽的,极注意细节的,完全的 | |
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63 anguish | |
n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼 | |
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64 eloquent | |
adj.雄辩的,口才流利的;明白显示出的 | |
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65 portrayal | |
n.饰演;描画 | |
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66 equitable | |
adj.公平的;公正的 | |
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67 emoluments | |
n.报酬,薪水( emolument的名词复数 ) | |
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68 glorification | |
n.赞颂 | |
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69 sheathed | |
adj.雕塑像下半身包在鞘中的;覆盖的;铠装的;装鞘了的v.将(刀、剑等)插入鞘( sheathe的过去式和过去分词 );包,覆盖 | |
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70 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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71 curiously | |
adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地 | |
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72 affront | |
n./v.侮辱,触怒 | |
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73 afterward | |
adv.后来;以后 | |
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74 astounding | |
adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊,使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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75 amiable | |
adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的 | |
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76 lewd | |
adj.淫荡的 | |
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77 slander | |
n./v.诽谤,污蔑 | |
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78 canine | |
adj.犬的,犬科的 | |
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79 inter | |
v.埋葬 | |
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80 populous | |
adj.人口稠密的,人口众多的 | |
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